The Civil War split the nation. It was the most bitter
conflict within the United States. The source of the conflict
between the North and the South resulted from fundamentally
different ways of life. Economy in the South was heavily based on
agriculture and growing cotton. The North was heavily
industrialized with factories and manufacturing being central to
the economy.

Growing and harvesting cotton required large numbers of
workers. This work force was made up of about 4 million slaves.
By the 1800's, the African slave trade had become illegal. But
existing slaves were not freed. Men and women of the North pushed
to completely abolish slavery. The South feared that losing the
slaves would have a severe economic impact on cotton plantations.

Abraham Lincoln was against slavery. When he was elected
President in 1860, seven Southern states left, or seceded, from
the United States. They formed the Confederate States of America.
On April 12, 1861, southern Confederate forces captured Fort
Sumter in South Carolina. Four more states seceded, and the Civil
War began.

The Civil War consisted of more than 50 major battles and 5000
minor battles. In less than 5 years, more than 600,000 men were
killed and hundreds of thousands of others were wounded. The
Union army with more soldier and resources eventually overcame
the Confederate army. On April 9, 1865, General Lee surrendered
his Confederate troops. The war was over. Five days after the
surrender treaty was signed, President Abraham Lincoln was
assassinated by a Southern sympathizer.